Method of pouring metal



June 27, 1933. M. G. DUMAS METHOD OF POURING METAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 1, 1950 INVENTOR hmaww ma June 27, 1933. M. G. DUMAS 1,915,651

METHOD OF POURING METAL Original Filed Oct. 1, 1930 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 @QWU l 'atente'd June 27, 1933 m'WELL G. DUIAS, OI PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA l mnon or rouame us'rnx.

Original application flied amber 1, 1980, Serial No. 485,819. Divided and this application filed February I s, 1981. "Serial No. 518,839. .1

This invention relates to im rovements in multiple pouring devices and t e present application 1s a division of my co-opending application, bearing Serial Number 485,619, filed under date of October 1, 1930.

In my co-pending application referred to, I have disclosed apparatus for multiple pouring of ingots whereby the difiicultles 1nherent 1n the pouring of steel ngots m smgle molds by large ladles, as heretofore practiced, were largely overcome.

In accordance with the present 1I1V6Ilt10n I provide a method of controlling the flow o vide apparatus which shall be adapted to control the flow of metal to the molds independently of the flow from the ladle or other supply means, said apparatus being adaptedto stop the flow to the molds entirely without 1nterrupting the flow from the supply source.

The inventiton will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which Figure 15 an end elevational view partiallymin section,

of a multiple pouring device em dying the principles of this invention; Figure 2 a side elevational view thereof with a portion of the apparatus out way for the sake of clarity Figure 3 an end elevational view of a modified form of-the device shown in Figure 1; and Fi ure 4 a side elevational view thereof.

ith particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the structure therein illustrated comprises a suitable foundation generally designated at 1, of concrete construction, from which arises a plurality of vertical supports 2 which are adapted to engage the extended portion of a pair of end brackets 3, the latter being secured in the wall structure 4, from which a platform 5 extends parallel with the brdckets 3.

The end brackets are adapted to journal a trough 6 for receiving the molten metal which is provided with trunnions 7 that are pivotally supported in the brackets 3 to permit angular movement of the trough 6 in response to a manually operated lever 8 to which it is connected by a link 9 and lever 10. The operating lever 8 is adapted to be locked in its adjusting position by a pawl that interacts with angularly spaced openings 12 of a se ment plate 13 which is mounted on the plat orm 5. 1

The trough 6 is shaped to have one flat side 15 and a flat bottom 16, the latter being continuous with a rounded side 17, thetrough being lined with-suitable refractory material 18 to provide the necessary heat insulation for the molten metal. The top of the trough is provided with a cast metal cover 19 having a hopper 20 into which the molten metal is poured from the usual ladle into which it is received from the open hearth, and with the exception of the hopper 20, the cover 19 is closed to retain the heat in the chamber of the trough. The side 15 of the trough is provided with openings 21 in lon 'tudinally spaced relation, and a plurality o spouts 22 are mounted in cooperative alinement with the openings 21 to conduct the metal to the ingot molds 23.

The spouts 22 are bifurcated as shown in Figure 2, the spout having a pair of troughs 24 which are spaced apart a distance equal to the normal or convenient spacing of the ingot molds when mounted on trucks for pouring. The spouts consist of a casting 25 aving a shaft 26 which is adapted to be j ournalled in a bearing 27 mounted on shoulders formed on the brackets 3 and on a cross support extending between the brackets, and a hand wheel 28 is mounted on the ends of the shafts 26 to provide for ad ustment of the troughs 24 in a manner to be hereinafter ex lained. Castings 25 are lined with a suitablza refractory material 29 to prevent chilling ofthe metal flowing to the molds 23.

As shown in Figure 2, the multiple pouring device may be adapted for the pouring of four or more ingots which are conveniently mounted on trucks '30 as is the customary practice and the ingots may or may not be provided with hot tops 31 which are employed as sink heads to prevent the formation of piping in the ingots.

PlOVlSlOIl is made for adjusting the trough to maintain the outlet 21 in horizontal alinement with said trou h so thatmetal flows uniformly through al the openin To this end, adjusting screws 35 are provi ed to raise or lower the ournals of trunnions 7 relative to each other, the movable member being secured in adjusted position by clamp bolts 36.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ingot molds are placed below the spouts 22 by moving the trucks 30 in their proper position on the tracks which are provided be ow the pouring device, and the lever 8 is moved to the position where the rounded portion of the walls 16 and 17 constitute the bottom of the trough. The trough is then charged with molten metal from the ladle, the metal being poured throu h the hopper 20 which is of such shape that t e metal will flow through the opening of the cover re a-rdless of the position of the trough, and after the trough is ,filled, the spouts 22 are adjusted to bring their troughs 24 in horizontal alinement, after which the lever 8 is pulled forward to tilt the trough 6 sufliciently to have the metal discharged through the openings 21 at the desired rate of flow. The metal flowing from the openings 21 will flow down the insulated troughs 24 into the ingot molds at a uniform rate and the trough 6 is tilted forward by moving the lever 8 in increments corresponding to the s acing of the notches 12, until it has reached t e position shown in the illustration of Figure 1.

As the ingot molds fill to their tops it may be desirable to have them fill up equally, and for this purpose the spouts 22 are manipulated through the hand wheel 28 so that the streams of metal flowing out of the troughs 24 may be regulated to cause an increased flow into one of the molds and a correspondingl reduced flow into the other mold whereb bzlanced. This is especially important w ere hot tops are employed as it is desirable to bring the ingots up to the same level once the metal contacts with the bottom of the hot tops and to then interrupt thepouring a e volume of metal in the molds ma be;

sufficient length of time to permit the metal to freeze around the spacing between the hot top and the mold to form a seal before filling the hot to with molten metal.

By means of the adjustment on the spouts 22 the flow may be so controlled that the metal in the ingots is at the same level in the respective molds and the adjustment can be convenientlymade without interrupting the pouring operation.

Pouring of metal from the ladle into trough 6 may be conducted regardlless of the'angular position of the trough and may be continued during the changing of the molds. For example, the flow of metal from the ladle to trough 6 may be initiated when the latter is in t 0 position shown in Figure 1 with openings 21 in a horizontal plane with metal flowing almost immediately to the molds. The outstanding advantage of the angular adjustment of trough 6 is the flow regulation and the feature of stop ing the flow entirely without the necessity of bm loying plugs with all its attendant hazar s, as in ladle pourin In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the trough is shown in the reversed position with the opening directly over the ingot molds and in the construction shown the spouts are eliminated. This construction is a simplification of the apparatus disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, and has the disad: vantage of lacking the flexible adjustment the movable spouts for regulating the flow of the metal to the ingot molds for the purpose described. However, it illustrates that the principle of the rounded wall of the trough and the lever operated tilting feature, may be employed without the use of adjustable spouts.

It IS evident from the foregoin description of this invention that a plura ity of ingots may be poured simultaneously and at uniform levels by the simple adjusting mechanism which provides for the pouring of two or any increased number of ingots in multiples of two ingots, because of the fact that the filling of each pair of the molds is separately regulable.

It is also evident that the trough when rounded in the manner shown, permits emptying all of the metal therefrom as it can be entirely discharged by tilting it through a relatively small angle.

Although one modification of the inven-' tion has been herein illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications ma be made in the details of construction wit out departing from the principles herein set forth I claim:

1. The method of pouring metal which tinuous flow at a maximum rate into a feeder, and from said feeder in subdivided streams to a plurality of molds at a minimum rate of fiow, and regulating the rate of flow of the several flow streams to the molds independently of the relative volume of flow of the meta from the feeder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MAXWELL G. DUMAS. 

